On June 15 and 23, the Fo Guang Shan Temple ofToronto hosted a microfilm workshop. The event, attended by 20 participants,aimed to promote Humanistic Buddhism through modern technology, as advocated by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the founder of Fo Guang Shan.

The workshop commenced with an address by Venerable Zhi Guan, the Superintendent of FGS Toronto, who underscored the power of photos and videos in capturing life's beautiful and touching moments. She emphasized the role of contemporary multimedia in showcasing life's beauty, aligning with Venerable Master Hsing Yun's advocacy for the modernization and cinematic portrayal of Buddhism. For years, Fo Guang Shan and the Buddha's Light International Association (BLIA) have championed the Three Acts of Goodness Microfilm International Contest, which aims to present virtuous and beautiful life stories through short films, fostering love and peace worldwide. VenerableZhi Guan highlighted the significance of this course in training more individuals to participate in this endeavour.

In the first session on June 15, instructor Baoliang introduced the basics of microfilm production, with a focus on Humanistic Buddhism and collaborative filmmaking. He led discussions on the nature of art and the purpose of microfilms, stressing the importance of reflecting "humanity" and "Buddhism." Baoliang detailed the stages of film production, including pre-production, production, post-production, and distribution, emphasizing that microfilm must capture the viewer's attention within the first five seconds.

The second session was led by Eric Li, a second-generation Fo Guang member and a university student specializing in video production. Eric elaborated on film production, storytelling, and cinematography techniques. He showcased famous film clips to demonstrate visual storytelling and shared comparisons between storyboards and final film shots. Using real movie examples, Eric analyzed the pre-production process and final film products, stressing the importance of a compelling plot, noting that even the best production would fall flat without it.

During the sessions on June 23, Baoliang guided participants in practicing how to break down a story into a storyboard and then use filming to bring the story to life. Eric taught participants how to use CapCut for editing and production, highlighting the critical role of post-production. He illustrated this by showing how post-production could transform a movie from a comedy into a horror film.

Participants were divided into three groups of 4-6 members each, assuming roles such as producer, director, screenwriter, and cinematographer. The groups enthusiastically discussed story ideas that could portray Humanistic Buddhism while capturing public interest.

Venerable Ru An, concluded the workshop by summarizing the workshop's learning objectives. She emphasized that while technological advancements bring convenience to life, a heart that cares about people and the things around them is essential to creating a touching film.

‍